Seven tribes with deep roots in Yosemite National Park are working to restore their practice of gathering plants within park boundaries. The Bridgeport Indian Colony filed this historic request in August 2022, representing all seven tribes who have lived and tended these lands for millennia. “The uncertain access to parklands has impacted the transfer of cultural practices between generations,” states the source document. This limitation stems from current park rules that make plant gathering illegal without special permission from the park superintendent. The tribes aren’t asking for unrestricted access. Instead, they propose gathering practices that have helped shape Yosemite’s plant … Continue reading Yosemite Tribes Seek Traditional Plant Gathering Rights: Public Input Ends February 12, 2025